TOYOTA CAMRY Problems - 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY Electrical System Problems

Electrical System Problem on the 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY

Car problem(s) with the 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY.
This database includes information received by NHTSA from consumers either directly or as recorded by the Vehicle Safety Hotline. This information may be used by NHTSA during the investigation process.
You may file your own complaint by calling the NHTSA Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153. You can also file your complaint online.

Problem with Electrical System

Jul 28, 2015 - Moreno Valley, , CA - Electrical System
KEY WILL NOT TURN TO START CAR. STEERING WHEEL LOCK GOES IN AND OUT. EVENTUALLY (5-20 MINUTES) DO SOMETHING THAT WORKS (DON'T KNOW WHAT) AND CAR WILL START. WHEN IT HAPPENED ONCE, I FIGURED IT WAS AN ANOMALY. BUT IT HAS NOT HAPPENED FIVE TIMES AND I AM NOW IN CONSTANT WORRY ABOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN. UPDATED 9/21/15 ...UPDATED 10/01/15 THE CONSUMER STATED USING A DIFFERENT IGNITION KEY SEEMED TO HAVE ALLEVIATED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/13/15

Aug 09, 2014 - Newark, DE - Electrical System
MY CAR MADE A WINING NOISE AND THEN A LOUD POP. I MANAGED TO GET IT OFF RT 40 AND INTO A PARKING LOT. THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND THERE WAS SEVERE SMOKE. I DID ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW HALF WAY AND THEN SHUT CAR OFF TRIED THE UNLOCK BUTTON AND IT DID NOT WORK. I THEN CRAWLED OUT THE WINDOW AND RAN THE CAR IGNITED AND CONTINUOUSLY BURNED UP?

Jul 18, 2014 - Indianapolis, IN - Electrical System
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS THAT THE IGNITION CYLINDER ASSEMBLY NEEDS REPLACED, LEAVING ME STRANDED ONCE AGAIN. MANAGED TO GET A FRIEND TO GET A REPLACEMENT PART FOR ME BUT NOW I CANNOT GET IT INSTALLED. THE KEY HAS TO BE IN THE ACC POSITION FOR IT TO GO IN BUT THE TAB THAT IT SLIDES INTO DOESN'T LINE UP. I HAVE BEEN A FAITHFUL TOYOTA CUSTOMER FOR 3 DECADES BUT THIS IS BEYOND FRUSTRATING!

Mar 03, 2008 - Valley Village, CA - Instrument Panel
TL CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, THE BRAKES FAILED, AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

Sep 06, 2006 - Stony Point, NY - Electrical System1997 TOYOTA CAMRY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON I-87. FIRE BEGAN SOMEWHERE UNDER THE FRONT HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. BRAKES FAILED WHILE MOVING TO HIGHWAY SHOULDER. PASSENGERS WERE IMMEDIATELY EVACUATED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE.

Aug 08, 2005 - Davidson, NC - Starter Assembly, Solenoid
I OWN A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 194,000 MILES. LAST WEEK IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I PULLED INTO THE OFFICE PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVED THE KEY. THE STARTER CONTINUED TO TRY TO START THE CAR. I TRIED TO STALL IT OUT BY LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH, BUT IT JUST CONTINUED TO TRY TO START. I THEN PUT THE KEY BACK IN TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I THEN RAN INTO THE OFFICE TO GET A TOOL TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. WHEN THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED THE STARTER QUIT, BUT BY THEN THE SOLENOID WAS SO OVERHEATED IT STARTED TO SMOKE AND BURN. LUCKILY WE HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON HAND. THE DEALER HAS ONLY SAID THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE STARTER. I THOUGHT VEHICLES HAD A FAIL SAFE MEASURE THAT WOULD TERMINATE THE POWER SUPPLY TO THE STARTER ONCE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.

Jul 21, 2005 - Brooklyn, NY - Wiring
MY CHEK ENIGNE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS HEADED OUT FOR A 250 MILE TRIP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND GOT THEIS LIST OF PROBLEMS. TIMING BELT REPLACMENT,WATER PUMP, RESEAL OIL PAN, REPLACE ENGINE PIPE, TRANSMISSION GASKET AND FILTER REPLACEMENT OXYGEN SENSOR, A/F SENSOR, EFI SERVICE, CAM SEAL, CRANK SEAL, OIL PUMP SEAL . BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST. I WENT ON LINE AND REALIZED THAT I HAD OIL SLUDGE. CALLED TOYAOTA, THEY TOLD ME TO GET IT EVALUATED FOR OIL SLUDGE

Jan 11, 2005 - Cincinnati, OH - Wiring, Front Underhood
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH A KNOCKING NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE, THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, THEN TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

Jan 06, 2005 - Tucson, AZ - Wiring, Rear Compartment/Trunk
WHILE DRIVING, THE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE FRONT. WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND THE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE CONSUMERS RADIO WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PASSENGER SEAT BELT STICKS. VEHICLE TRUNK LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. THE DRIVER SIDE ADJUSTABLE HANDLE DOES NOT WORK. THE RUBBER ON THE MOTOR MOUNT DOES NOT LAST AND BREAKS. THE VEHICLE JERKS REPEATEDLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE CURRENTLY HAS A PERMANENT BACK PROBLEM DUE TO THE ADJUSTABLE HANDLE NOT WORKING.

Sep 15, 2004 - Fall River, MA - Wiring, Rear Compartment/Trunk
TRUNK HINGES ARE CUTTING INTO THE WIRE HARNNESS FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS. FUSES FOR THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BLOWEN OUT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY FURTHER INFOMATION OR ADVICE ON THIS PROBLEM.

Apr 26, 2004 - Clinton, MO - Wiring, Front Underhood
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BOOMING NOISE. THEN, SAW FIRE THROUGH THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SOME SORT OF EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH TORE A HOLE STRAIGHT THROUGH THE OIL PAN. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

Jan 20, 2004 - Cresco, PA - Wiring, Front Underhood
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES.

Mar 31, 2003 - Rowland Heights, CA - Starter Assembly
POOR DESIGN AND BUILD - 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY LE (4 CYLINDER). I OWN A 1997 4-CYLINDER CAMRY LE. IT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. A FEW MONTHS AGO, ITS STARTER WENT BAD AND WAS REPLACED. THIS MORNING, THE DEALER FOUND THAT ITS ENGINE VALVE SEALS WORN OUT AND MUST BE REPLACED (OVER $1000 REPAIR). I CHECKED THE INTERNET CAR FORUMS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1997 MODEL YEAR 4-CYLINDER TOYOTA CAMRY. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A POOR DESIGN AND BUILD PROBLEM. CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT BE PAYING A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S POOR DESIGN AND BUILD. ALL 1997 4-CYLINDER CAMRY SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY TOYOTA.

Sep 09, 2002 - Akron, OH - Wiring, Front Underhood
WHILE TRAVELING, EXITING TOLL, OCCUPANTS HEARD A POP AND THEN STEERING STARTED JIGGLING. BEFORE ACTUALLY PULLING OVER TO INSPECT VEHICLE, SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES BEGAN SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH BY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING OR CAUSE OF FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

Dec 15, 2001 - Midwest City, OK - Electrical System
CONSUMER WAS TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO FIND OUT WHY FLUID LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATED THAT THERE COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, SHORTLY AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.

Feb 12, 2001 - Davidsville, PA - Wiring, Front Underhood
THIS IS SECOND FAILURE AFTER 9,000 MILES ON REPLACEMENT,IT HAPPENED AT START UP IN GARAGE, GREAT DEAL OF SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, INDICATING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, FORTUNATELY, IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE VEHICLE DRIVEN, IT WOULD OBSCURED VISION OF DRIVER,THUS CAUSING ACCIDENT, TOYOTA NOTIFIED, COULD CARE LESS!

Jan 02, 2001 - Ross, CA - Wiring
INADEQUTE STRAIN RELIEF ON CABLE LEADING FROM CHASSIS TO TRUNK LID ALLOWED/CAUSED EXCESSIVE STRAIN ON WIRES LEADING TO MULTIPLE INSULATION FAILURES. FURTHERMORE, SOME STRANDS OF AT LEAST ONE WIRE BROKE, PROTRUDED, AND POSSIBLY SHORTED TO ANOTHER WIRE CAUSING THE FUSE FOR THAT CIRCUIT TO BLOW. THIS CAUSED THE TAIL LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, AND PARKING LIGHTS TO BE OFF, A SAFETY HAZARD FOR NIGHT /DUSK/DAWN DRIVING CONDITIONS. I AM REPORTING THIS ON BEHALF OF MY FATHER WHO IS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE BEING CC'D ON ANY CORRESPONDENCE AT EDSCARGOT@AOL.COM

Nov 19, 2000 - Waynesboro, PA - Fuses And Circuit Breakers
MY TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT AND I HAD THEM REPLACED. LESS THAN SIX MOTHS LATER THEY WENT OUT AGAIN. ONE OF MY ELECTRIC LOCKS NO LONGER WORKS. THE DOOR DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. THE DEALER FIXED IT, AND THEN THE LOCK ASSEMBLY WENT BAD A MONTH LATER. MY LICENSE PLATE LIGHT NO LONGER WORKS, IT S NOT THE BULB. THE SHIFTER LIGHT WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT WENT OUT. MY ALARM SYSTEM WILL NOT BEEP TO CONFIRM ITS OPERATING. I WAS CHARGED TO HAVE IT RESET AND IT WENT BAD LESS THAN SIX MONTHS LATER. NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.

Aug 25, 1999 - West Carrollton, OH - Wiring, Front Underhood
WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH A POPPING NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD BEFORE THE VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.